Spring operated toys



Feb. 24, 1970 RE N SPRING OPERATED TOYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1966 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR JOSEPH GREEN s ATTORNEY Feb-24,1970 J. GREEN 3,497,221

srnms OPERATED roars Filed Nov. 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. Z

I" I -1"; 1 I

FIG. II.

- INVENTOR JOSEPH GREEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,497,221 SPRING OPERATED TOYS Joseph Green, Hewlett, N.Y., assignor to Miner Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,295 Int. Cl. A63!) 67/10 US. Cl. 273--102.1 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy comprises a first member to which an elongated second member is connected at one end for movement between extended and retracted positions, and such second member includes a spring ribbon longitudinally stressed to tend to assume a coiled condition for the retracted position and further being stressed to the form of a concave-convex cross-section when fully extended for the extended position to prevent rewinding of the ribbon to its coiled condition, and movement of said second member from its extended position to its retracted position is automatically effected by flattening of the spring ribbon at its end remote from the first member, as by propelling a ball against such remote end.

This invention relates generally to toys or laythings, and has for its object to provide spring operated toys or playthings of relatively simple and inexpensive construction that are reliable in operation, long-lasting, capable of unique actions attractive to children and suitable for use by a single child or in games involving two or more children.

A toy according to this invention generally comprises at least first and second members connected to each other, with the second member being movable with respect to the first member between an extended, substantially straight position and a retracted position, the second member including spring means manipulatable to displace and hold the second member to its extended position and, upon actuation of the spring means, to automatically return the second member to its retracted position.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the spring means is in the form of a spring ribbon which is longitudinally stressed so as to tend to assume a tightly wound, coiled condition corresponding to the retracted position of the second or movable member of the toy, the spring ribbon being further stressed to have a formed concave-convex cross-section when the spring ribbon is in fully extended condition corresponding to the extended position of the movable member, and which prevents rewinding of the spring ribbon to its coiled condition until an end of the ribbon is flattened.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a ball or other projectile is provided to be thrown or otherwise propelled against the spring ribbon in its extended condition so that, when the projectile strikes the extended ribbon at an end thereof, such end of the ribbon is flattened and thereby initiates the return of the spring ribbon to its coiled condition.

The toy or plaything in accordance with this invention may be formed to depict an animal or other fanciful figure, in which case the movable member of the toy may be in the form of a flexible covering for the spring ribbon movable with the latter between its fully extended and coiled conditions to simulate movement of the respective part of the depicted figure.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy embodying this invention, with a movable member of the toy being shown in its extended position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the manner in which movement of the movable member of the toy from it extended position to its retracted or coiled position can be initiated;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the toy of FIG. 1 with its movable member in the fully retracted or coiled position thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a movable member of the toy in its fully retracted or coiled position;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention which may be suspended from a wall or other vertical support, and which is shown with its movable member in its extended position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the toy of FIG. 7, but shown with its movable member in the retracted or coiled position thereof;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention shown with its movable member partly broken away and in extended position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9, but showing the movable member in its retracted or coiled position; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 1111 on FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, it will be seen that a toy or plaything 10 embodying this invention, as there shown, generally comprises three members 11, 12 and 13 that are interconnected and are respectively in the form of a spring ribbon and two targets mounted on the ends of such ribbon.

The member 11 is the form of a spring ribbon is movable from an extended, substantially straight position, as shown on FIG. 1, toward target member 12 to a tightly wound, coiled or retracted position in which target member 13 is at the inside of the coil and target member 12 is at the outside of the coil, as shown on FIG. 4. Alternatively, spring ribbon 11 is movable from its extended position toward target member 13 to a coiled or retracted position in which target member 12 is at the inside of the coil and target member 13 is at the outside of the coil.

Spring ribbon 11 is preferably of a known type, for example, as disclosed fully in US. Patent No. 2,956,795, issued Oct. 18, 1960, to E. E. Foster, in which the ribbon of spring steel, brass and the like, is stressed longitudinally so as to tend to assume the tightly wound, coiled condition and further stressed so that, when the ribbon is unwound to its fully extended, substantially straight condition, the ribbon assumes a concave-convex cross-section (FIG. 2) which resists return of the ribbon to its coiled condition. However, When one end or the other of the extended spring ribbon 11 is flattened, rewinding of the ribbon commences automatically from such flattened end and continues progressively until the ribbon is returned to its retracted or coiled condition.

In order that the target members 12 and 13 will not interfere with the coiling of ribbon 11, as described above, such target members are preferably formed of a flexible plastic or other material and are secured to the respective ends of ribbon 11 either by cement or adhesive or by central rivets or other fasteners 14. Preferably, the target members 12 and 13 are at the side 3f ribbon 11 which is convex in the fully extended conlition of the spring ribbon.

The toy or plaything 10 is completed by a projectile, for example, in the form ofa ball 15, as shown, which may be thrown or otherwise propelled to strike one or the other of target members 12 and 13.

The toy or plaything 10 may be compactly pack-aged with spring ribbon 11 in its coiled condition, for examp e, as shown in FIG. 4, and by disposing the ball 15 within the coiled ribbon.

In using the described toy or plaything 10, the coiled spring ribbon 10 is unwound manually to its fully extended, substantially straight condition (FIG. 1) and placed on a horizontal surface, such as the floor or ground, with its convex side and the target members 12 and 13 facing upwardly. If two children are to use the toy in connection with a competitive game, each child or contestant takes a position adjacent a respective one of the target members 12 and 13. The contestants then alternately bounce the ball 15 toward each other seeking, in each instance, to strike the remotely positioned target member 12 or 13. When a target member 12 or 13 is struck by the ball 15, as shown on FIG. 3, the resulting impact flattens the related end portion of spring ribbon 11 and initiates the rewinding of the ribbon toward its other end. Thus, if the ball strikes target member 13, the coil formed by ribbon 11 will have target member 13 at the inside thereof; whereas, if target member 12 is struck, the resulting coil *will have that target member at its inside. In each case, the condition of the coil will indicate which of the target members has been struck and which of the contestants is to be awarded points therefor. Of course, if desired, two balls 15 can be used simultaneously and aimed by the respective contestants at the target members at the opposite ends of the extended spring ribbon. When two balls are used simultaneously, the possibility of determining which of the target members has been struck from the condition of the coiled ribbon will be particularly advantageous.

After each strike or hit on one or the other of target members 12 and 13, spring ribbon 11 is manually unwound and returned to its fully extended position so that the game can continue as described until one contestant has achieved a predetermined number of hits.

Although reference has been made to two contestants in the above description of the use of toy or plaything 10, it will be apparent that a single child can similarly use the toy by positioning the same on the floor adjacent a wall or other vertical surface against which the ball can bounce for return to the player. Even when used by a single child, the automatic coiling of the spring ribbon 11 resulting from the striking of one or the other of the target members by the ball is an exciting action that enhances the childs interest and enjoyment of the toy.

Referring now to the modification shown on FIGS. and 6, it will be seen that the toy or plaything a there illustrated is generally similar to the previously described toy 10 and has its corresponding parts identified by the same reference numerals, but with the letter a appended thereto. In addition to such parts, the toy 10a comprises a platform 16 secured on spring ribbon 11a intermediate its ends and carrying a bell 17.

When ball a strikes one or the other of target members 12a and 13a and thus flattens the respective end portion of spring ribbon 11a, the spring ribbon rewinds from such flattened end to form a coil moving progressively toward platform 16 and finally striking bell 17, as shown on FIG. 6, so that an audible signal is provided to indicate that a target member has been struck.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the toy or plaything 10b there illustrated comprises a spring ribbon 11b similar to the previously described ribbon 11, a rigid member 12b which may be of fanciful configuration, for example, in the form of a clowns head, as shown, and which has a hole 18 in its upper portion to receive a nail or hook for suspending member 12b on a wall or the like, and a target member 13b at one end of ribbon 11b. The end of ribbon 11b remote from target member 13b is secured to the lower part of member 12b, as at 19, so that ribbon 11b, when in its extended position, depends from member 12b, as shown on FIG. 7. When the ball 15b or other projectile strikes target member 13b at the lower end of the extended ribbon 11b so as to flatten such end, the upward coiling of the spring ribbon is initiated. A bell 17b is also mounted on member 12b above the upper end of ribbon 11b, and a striker or clapper assembly 20 is preferably disposed therebetween. As shown on FIG. 8, the clapper assembly 20 may include a flexible element 21 of leather or plastic secured to member 12b and carrying a metal weight 22 at its free end to serve as the clapper.

When ribbon 11b is in its extended, depending position (FIG. 7) element 21 droops downwardly away from bell 17b. When ribbon 11b is rewound upwardly in response to the striking of target member 13b by ball 15b, the resulting coil acts upwardly against element 21 (FIG. 8) and the clapper 22 is impelled against bell 17b to provide an audible signal.

The toy 10b can be used as a target device for improving the accuracy with which the ball 15b or other projectile is thrown or otherwise propelled. Alternately, the toy 10b can be used in a game akin to blindmans bluff. In the latter case, each contestant is blind-folded and given a ball or other game piece with which the contestant gropes over the wall or other surface on which the toy is suspended until such grasped game piece is pressed against target member 13b to initiate ringing of bell 17b. The winner may be the contestant who rings the bell in the shortest time.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate another toy 10c in accordance with this invention which may be used in a game of blindmans blufl or otherwise. The toy 10c comprises a spring ribbon secured at one end to a member 12:: which may be suspended, as by an apertured lug 180, on a wall or other support surface. The member 12c may have a configuration to simulate part of a depicted animal or other fanciful figure, for example, an elephants head, as shown, while the spring ribbon 110 is covered by a flexible member which is movable therewith and sim- =ulates another movable part of the depicted animal or figure. In the toy 100, the member 13c is shown to be in a form, for example, a flattened, tapering tube of flexible plastic extending from member 12c and enveloping spring ribbon 110, to simulate an elephants trunk.

When spring ribbon 110 is in its extended position, the trunk represented by member 130 depends from the head represented by member 120. When the lower or free end of the extended spring ribbon 110 is flattened against the supporting wall, the spring ribbon coils upwardly toward member 12c, and the member 13c is similarly coiled upward to simulate coiling movement of the elephants trunk. As shown on FIG. 9, each game-piece 15c given to a blind-folded player may be in the form of a peanut so that, when such peanut-shaped game-piece is pressed against the end of the elephants trunk, the latter is coiled upwardly.

Although a number of illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising at least a first member and a second member connected to said first member and being movable with respect to the latter between an extended, substantially straight position and a retracted position, said second member including a spring ribbon which is longitudinally stressed so as to tend to assume a tightly wound coiled condition corresponding to said retracted position and further being stressed to have a formed concave-convex cross-section when said spring ribbon is in fully extended condition corresponding to said extended straight position and which prevents rewinding of said spring ribbon to said coiled condition, said first member being flexible and relativel at and having a generally central portion thereof overlying at least an end portion of said second member at the side of said spring ribbon which is convex when the latter is in said fully extended condition, whereby movement of said second member from said extended position to said retracted position can be automatically effected by flattening said spring ribbon through said first member at said end portion of the spring ribbon, and a ball adapted to be thrown against said first member at said end portion of the spring ribbon for flattening the spring ribbon and thereby permitting rewinding of said ribbon to said coiled condition.

2. A toy as in claim 1; wherein said first member is in the form of a first target secured to one end of said ribbon spring, and further comprising a second flexible, relatively flat target secured to the other end of said ribbon spring in the same manner as the first target, the ball, upon selectively striking one of said first and second targets causing flattening of the ribbon spring at the related end and thereby selectively causing rewinding of the ribbon spring from each of said ends toward the other.

3. A toy comprising a first support member and a second member connected to said support member and being movable with respect to the latter between an extended, substantially straight position, in which said second member depends from said support member, and a retracted position, said second member including a spring ribbon which is longitudinally stressed so as to tend to assume a tightly wound coiled condition corresponding to said retracted position and further being stressed to have a formed concave-convex cross-section when said spring ribbon is in fully extended condition corresponding to said extended straight position and which prevents rewinding of said spring ribbon to said coiled condition, whereby movement of said second member from said extended position to said retracted position can be automatically effected by flattening said spring ribbon at an end of the latter remote from said support member, a ball adapted to be thrown against said spring ribbon at said end thereof for flattening the spring ribbon and thereby permitting rewinding of said ribbon to said coiled condition, and a bell carried by said support member and which is struck upon rewinding of said spring ribbon to said coiled condition.

4. A toy as in claim 3, which said support member has a striker mounted thereon which is normally spaced from said bell, said striker being engaged by said spring ribbon when in said coiled condition and urged thereby against said bell to sound the latter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 194,614 8/1877 Oakford. 1,718,792 6/1929 Main 46-1 2,903,265 9/1959 Wheeler 273102.1 X 2,956,795 10/1960 Foster. 2,963,295 12/1960 Pearl. 3,120,958 2/1964 Glass et al. 3,410,023 11/1968 Anello 46l23 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner MAX R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273-1 

